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Is Plastic Sheeting Also Called,"Vapor Diffusion Retarders"?

Posted by Nana Hinsley on Tue, Jul 09, 2013 @ 03:29

The question has been posed whether plastic sheeting is used as a vapor diffusion retarder (VDR). ABSOLUTELY!  There are different types of vapor diffusion retarders- but plastic sheeting is one of the primary ways in which to control the moisture content coming into your home or building.  A vapor diffusion retarder is a material that reduces the rate in which water vapor can move through a material such as a plastic sheeting liner or vapor barrier. The ability of a material to retard the diffusion of water vapor is measured in units referred to as "perms. Vapor barriers are also measured in terms of its "permeability". Any material with a perm rating of less than 1.0 is considered a vapor diffusion retarder, or a plastic sheeting vapor barrier.

Vapor Diffusion Retarder

Some plastic sheeting is more effective as a vapor diffusion retarder. That is because it is engineered to specifically retard the flow of water. Additionally these plastic sheeting liners are tested to the ASTM E1745 standard.

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Tags: vapor diffusion retarders

Crawl Space Vapor Barriers- how do you pick one?

Posted by Nana Hinsley on Tue, Jul 09, 2013 @ 02:56

Crawl space vapor barriers also referred to as vapor retarders or more accurately-vapor diffusion retarders come with different characteristics to suit the application they are protecting.  There are a few fundamental questions that need to be answered so the most appropriate vapor barrier can be selected for the job.

Crawl space vapor barrier

One of the most important questions that arise is whether the home is in an area that has radon or methane gas coming up through the ground. This is critical because radon gas decays into radioactive particles that can get trapped in your lungs when you breathe. This means your lung tissue can be damaged leading to lung cancer over the course of your lifetime. Knowing if you have radon gas in your home will help you decide on buying a crawl space vapor barrier that block deadly radon gas. 

The next consideration is the surface to which you are laying the crawlspace vapor barrier (vapor diffusion retarder) upon.  It is rocky with sharp rocks, then you need a liner that won't puncture when it comes in contact with the soil. Thicker material will give the crawl space vapor barrier more strength to hold up to that type of surface.

How will you be using the space where you place the vapor diffusion retarder? If it is a crawlspace that is used for storage- or where people will be walking, then again you will want an 18 mil liner that has some brawn.

Click for pricing/ info Search for Greenhouse Plastic, tapes, fire retardant films, plastic sheeting Home page www.globalplasticsheeting.com plastic sheeting, tapes, strapping fire retardant films greenhouse plastic Plastic Sheeting Thickness chart. How thick is best for you?

Tags: crawl space vapor barrier, vapor diffusion retarders